Luggage having collapsible side walls, bottom wall, and top wall

ABSTRACT

Collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, wherein two opposite side walls have a collapsible telescoping X frame. Each of the four vertically extending corner posts include a vertical telescoping support rod, and further includes a vertically extending spring. Also, the collapsible luggage further includes a bottom collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. Also, the collapsible luggage further includes a top collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. The four side walls, bottom wall, and top wall are each movable between an expanded configuration to a compact configuration wherein the width, length, and height of the collapsible luggage are each substantially reduced. The collapsible luggage further includes wheels at each of the four corners, and a handle located at the top of the luggage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to collapsible luggage having fourcollapsible side walls, a collapsible top wall, and a collapsible bottomwall, wherein telescoping rods and expandable springs are employed tocollapse the luggage into a compact configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although collapsible luggage is known in the prior art, there are anumber of disadvantages. For example, it is difficult to collapse largeluggage into a compact configuration having a structure whichautomatically is compacted to a substantially reduced size, and isautomatically moved to its full expanded configuration.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide collapsible luggagehaving four collapsible side walls, a collapsible top wall, and acollapsible bottom wall, wherein telescoping rods and expandable springsare employed to collapse the luggage into a compact configuration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide large luggage thatis automatically collapsible into a compact configuration, and is alsoautomatically moved to its expanded configuration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide collapsiblestructure, which includes telescoping rods and expandable springs alongeach edge of the collapsible luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, wherein twoopposite side walls have a collapsible telescoping X frame. Each of thefour vertically extending corner posts include a vertical telescopingsupport rod, and further includes a vertically extending spring. Also,the collapsible luggage further includes a bottom collapsible wallhaving four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescopingsupport rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. Also,the collapsible luggage further includes a top collapsible wall havingfour edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescopingsupport rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. Thefour side walls, bottom wall, and top wall are each movable between anexpanded configuration to a compact configuration wherein the width,length, and height of the collapsible luggage are each substantiallyreduced. The collapsible luggage further includes wheels at each of thefour corners, and a handle located at the top of the luggage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible luggage of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsibleluggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescopingrods and extendable springs;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsibleluggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescopingrods and extendable springs, wherein the side walls are partiallycollapsed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsibleluggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescopingrods and extendable springs, wherein the side walls and the top andbottom walls are partially collapsed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsibleluggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescopingrods and extendable springs, wherein the side walls and the top andbottom walls are partially collapsed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7a is a detailed view of the vertical column, wherein the verticaltelescoping rod and vertical spring are in a compacted configuration,and FIG. 7B shows them in an expanded configuration;

FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c show the X frames on the side walls in an expandedand compact configuration;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of an intersecting corner of a vertical columnand the bottom wall edges;

FIGS. 10a and 10b show an alternate embodiment to FIGS. 7a and 7b ,wherein the vertically extending springs surround the verticaltelescoping support rods in order to reduce space;

FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment, wherein the springs are insidethe telescoping support rods in order to protect them;

FIG. 11a is a collapsed configuration of the springs and telescopingrods shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 11b is an expanded configuration of the springs and telescopingrods shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, collapsible luggage 10 has four collapsibleside walls 12, 14, 16, and 18, and wherein two opposite side walls 12and 16 each have a collapsible telescoping X frame 20 and 22. Luggage 10includes four vertically extending corner posts 30, 32, 34, and 36 eachincluding a vertical telescoping support rod 40, 42, 44, and 46. Inaddition, attached to each support rod 40, 42, 44, and 46 is avertically extending spring 50, 52, 54, and 56.

Also, the collapsible luggage 10 further includes a bottom collapsiblewall 60 having four edges 62, 64, 66, and 68, wherein each edge includesa horizontally telescoping support rod 70, 72, 74, and 76, and furtherincludes a horizontally extending spring 80, 82, 84, and 86.

Also, the collapsible luggage 10 further includes a top collapsible wall90 having four edges 92, 94, 96, and 98, wherein each edge includes ahorizontally telescoping support rod 100, 102, 104, and 106, and furtherincludes a horizontally extending spring 110, 112, 114, and 116.

The four side walls, bottom wall, and top wall are each movable betweenan expanded configuration to a compact configuration wherein the width,length, and height of the collapsible luggage 10 are each substantiallyreduced. The collapsible luggage 10 further includes wheels 120 at eachof the four corners, and a handle 130 located at the top of the luggage10.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment showing collapsible luggage 140having two separate collapsible compartments 142 and 144.

FIG. 7a is a detailed view of the vertical column, wherein the verticaltelescoping rod and vertical spring are in a compacted configuration,and FIG. 7B shows them in an expanded configuration.

FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c show the X frames on the side walls in an expandedand compact configuration.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of an intersecting corner of a vertical columnand the bottom wall edges showing the operation thereof.

FIGS. 10a and 10b show an alternate embodiment to FIGS. 7a and 7b ,wherein the vertically extending springs surround the verticaltelescoping support rods in order to reduce space.

FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment, wherein the springs are insidethe telescoping support rods in order to protect them.

FIG. 11a is a collapsed configuration of the springs and telescopingrods shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11b is an expanded configuration of the springs and telescopingrods shown in FIG. 11.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide collapsibleluggage having four collapsible side walls, a collapsible top wall, anda collapsible bottom wall, wherein telescoping rods and expandablesprings are employed to collapse the luggage into a compactconfiguration.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide large luggagethat is automatically collapsible into a compact configuration, and isalso automatically moved to its expanded configuration.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide collapsiblestructure, which includes telescoping rods and expandable springs alongeach edge of the collapsible luggage.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

What is claimed is: 1) Collapsible luggage having four collapsible sidewalls, comprising: a) four collapsible side walls, wherein two oppositeside walls have a collapsible telescoping X frame; b) wherein each ofthe four vertically extending corner posts include a verticaltelescoping support rod, and further includes a vertically extendingspring; c) further including a bottom collapsible wall having fouredges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping supportrod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring; d) furtherincluding a top collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edgeincludes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes ahorizontally extending spring; e) wherein said four side walls, bottomwall, and top wall are each movable between an expanded configuration toa compact configuration wherein the width, length, and height of thecollapsible luggage are each substantially reduced; and f) furtherincluding wheels at each of the four corners, and a handle located atthe top of the luggage. 2) Collapsible luggage in accordance with claim1, wherein said vertically extending corner posts each include anadjacent vertically extending spring; and wherein said top and bottomwalls, along each edge include horizontally telescoping support rods andeach include an adjacent horizontally extending spring. 3) Collapsibleluggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said verticallyextending corner posts are each surrounded by a vertically extendingspring; and wherein said top and bottom walls, along each edge includehorizontally telescoping support rods each surrounded by a horizontallyextending spring. 4) Collapsible luggage in accordance with claim 1,wherein each of said vertically extending corner posts each includetherein a vertically extending spring; and wherein said top and bottomwalls, along each edge, include horizontally telescoping support rodsand each include therein a horizontally extending spring.